Santiago & The W Trek Torres del Paine

Experience Torres del Paine National Park, considered as the 5th most beautiful place in the world by the National Geographic and one of the most beautiful National Park in Chile. The high mountains, wildlife, glaciers &lakes and rivers shaped a landscape unique & breathtaking. Experience, discover and enjoy the beauty of this park by trekking the most important route open for tourism. “W” route is known by many tourists like one of the most popular trekking route in Patagonia and it will certainly be an unforgettable adventure.

Itinerary

Santiago

Plaza San Francisco

Day 1: Santiago

Private airport transfer in Santiago with a guide and driver.

Enjoy a private half day panoramic city tour with your own private vehicle, professional driver and English speaking Guide taking in the main avenues of the city’s civic center as well as the main sites of interest. Visit La Moneda Palace, the current seat of the government formerly the home of Chilean presidents until 1958. Then continue along the streets of the downtown area to the Main Square surrounded by the Cathedral Metropolitana of the XVIII century, the National Historical Museum, and the Central Post Office. Visit the Forestal Park passing in front of the Fine Arts Museum towards Bellavista, the bohemian quarter of Santiago. Continue to San Cristóbal Hill, a beautiful public park dominated by the monumental sculpture of Virgin Mary (36 meter high). From this site, enjoy a panoramic view of the city before continuing toward the modern residential neighborhoods of Pedro de Valdivia Norte, Las Condes, and Vitacura. At the end of the tour you will be dropped back at your hotel allowing you some time for some independent exploring or some relaxation time at your hotel. San Cristobal hill fee included.

Accommodation: Plaza San Francisco

Puerto Natales

Hotel Costaustralis

Day 2: Santiago - Punta Arenas - Puerto Natales

Private airport transfer in Santiago with a guide and driver.

Flight is required, currently not included in the quote.

Upon your arrival into Punta Arenas airport, your private driver and English speaking guide will meet you for a transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales. Approximate transfer time 4.5 hours.

Note: you are required to carry the gear/clothing you take with you on this hike.

Note: Hike is shared and accommodations are shared (no private rooms)

*At Cabana Los Cuernos there is the option to upgrade to private cabana, please speak to your sales consultant if you wish to do so.

NO GUIDE INCLUDED - You will hike each day on your own.

You will be transferred from Puerto Natales to Torres del Paine National Park (Laguna Amarga Main Entrance), with a little stop in Cerro Castillo Village (located at 54 Km north from Puerto Natales on the way to the National Park). Cerro Castillo is a small settlement on a jagged rocky peak on the main border crossing point between Chile and Argentina.

Upon arrival at the Laguna Amarga entrance, you will pick up your entrance ticket and take the shuttle that will be waiting to take you to the Las Torres Sector where Las Torres Hotel is located.

Arrival: 4:30 pm

The entrance ticket to Torres del Paine National Park is included.

The entrance ticket to Torres del Paine National Park is included.

Accommodation: Las Torres Hotel

Lake Nordenskjold

Day 4: Torres del Paine

This morning, depart for a hiking trek to Base Torres. For the first hour, walking is steep with fantastic views of Lake Nordenskjöld and Almirante Nieto Mountain with its hanging glacier. You will then reach Refugio El Chileno. Carrying only a small back pack, you will continue the trail through a millenary Lenga forest (1 hour) until the base of “the moraine” with it's challenging ascent (45 min), will take you to one of the most impressive places in the park: the lookout of the “Base of Torres del Paine” where you will enjoy the view of Torre Sur, Torre Central, Torre Norte and Cerro Nido de Cóndor.

Please note this activity has a high difficulty level.

Accommodation: Las Torres Hotel

Cabins Los Cuernos

Day 5: Torres del Paine

The trail goes through the Base of Almirante Nieto Mountain, part of the Paine Massif, with great views to Nordenskjöld Lake; from December the flora presents different colours specially the “Ciruelillo” or “Fire Bush” which takes its name from the red colour of its flowers. After about 4 – 5 hours you will arrive at the Base of Los Cuernos where Cabins Los Cuernos are located. Considered by many, one of the most charming sites in the whole park, a perfect spot to rest and recover energies for the next day challenging trek: “The French Valley”.

Difficulty Level: Medium

Accommodation: Cabins Los Cuernos

Lodge Paine Grande

Day 6: Torres del Paine

The first 2 hours are with some ascents and descents and views to Nordenskjöld Lake, until you reach “Campamento Italiano”. At this point, it is recommended you to contact CONAF staff so you can leave your big backpack with them and start the next part of the trek with a small day backpack. The ascent goes for approximately 1 hour and a half until you reach French Glacier lookout, where you’ll be able to observe its hanging glacier and opportunities to observe small avalanches. After that, the trail continues until “Campamento Británico” and after about 20 minutes you will reach the lookout point considered by many as one of the most overwhelming spots in the Circuit: “Mirador Britanico”, where you will admire: “Paine Grande”, “Cerro Hoja”, “Cerro Máscara”, “Cerro Catedral”, “Cerro Aleta de Tiburón”, “Cuerno Norte”, etc.The return is the same way back to “Campamento Italiano”, and then to Pehoé sector.

Difficulty Level: High

Accommodation: Lodge Paine Grande

Crossing Pehoe Lake

Day 7: Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales

Trek to Grey Glacier lookout (roundtrip). The trail goes through the western side of the Paine Massif with views to Grey Lake and Mountains. After 1 hour, you will reach the first lookout point, where you may observe Grey Glacier in the distance, after approximately 2 hours, you will reach the Main lookout, in front of the glacier.

Difficulty Level: Medium

The return journey is the same way back until Pehoé Lake to take the Catamaran that crosses the Lake at 6.30 PM to Pudeto sector, where your bus will be waiting for you to take you back to Puerto Natales (arrival time to Puerto Natales: around 9.30 PM).

Please be aware of the Catamaran departure time. Note: private transfer not needed, shuttle. You may leave your backpack in the storage room at Paine Grande Lodge, free service.

Accommodation: Hotel Costaustralis

Day 8: Puerto Natales

Enjoy a private transfer from Puerto Natales to the airport in Punta Arenas with professional driver and English speaking guide.

What's Included:

Guaranteed departure - Accommodation, Activities, Transfers, Meals, Fees where indicated as per the itinerary - Local and international traveler assistance during your tour - Specialised and personalised services

What's not Included:

Trip Terms & Conditions

Your deposit is due immediately on booking (30% of program price, minimum $350). The balance is due 90 days prior to departure.

Cancellations of confirmed bookings 90 days or more prior to departure will receive full refund minus a $350 (per person) administrative fee and any non-refundable paid such as (e.g. non-refundable airfare, cruise or hotel deposits). 60-89 days will be subject to loss of 30% of program price and any non-refundable airfare and cruise deposits if applicable. 30-59 days will be subject to loss of 75% of program price. 29 days or less will be subject to loss of 100% of program price.

Tour quotes do not include airfare to/from the trip start point unless noted on the itinerary

Cost increases in currency exchange, government fees, taxes, surcharges or hotel/lodge tariff increases between quote date and start date are payable by the client.

Availability cannot be guaranteed until booked. We will exercise best efforts to book hotels per the itinerary, however, in busy seasons and with client bookings made within 90 days of tour date we may be forced to offer substitutes.

Living Standards and practices at destination may differ from those in North America with respect to provisions of utilities, services and accommodation.

Hotels

Plaza San Francisco

Plaza San Francisco - Santiago

Hotel Plaza San Francisco is the prized secret of downtown Santiago, offering excellent services and genuine hospitality. The guest rooms are well-appointed, each fitted with all the amenities of home. Enjoy 24-hour room and laundry service, cable TV, and individual and automatic heating and air conditioning. One may take meals in the Bristol Restaurant, which offers a range of services and sittings, from casual plates to elegant gourmet-style dishes. The restaurant is considered one of the best in the city. Make use of the hotel's fitness room, or simply wander around the local area. The hotel is in walking distance of neighborhoods, national monuments, and a number of sights.

Hotel Costaustralis - Puerto Natales

Located in the attractive town of Puerto Natales (Chile), on the edge of the astonishing Ultima Esperanza fjord, the Costaustralis hotel stands out as a living example of the spontaneity of the Magellan architecture. Facing the fjord of Last Hope, Hotel Costaustralis stands out for its traditional building land marking the entrance of the city of Puerto Natales. Costaustralis Hotel boasts stylish and comfortable rooms designed to provide total relaxation.

Las Torres Hotel

Located inside Torres del Paine National Park, Hotel Las Torres Patagonia features a spa, a restaurant and an organic garden. It offers room with free Wi-Fi only 4 miles from Laguna Amarga Lake. With large windows overlooking the valley and the mountains, rooms at Las Torres Patagonia are very bright. All of them have heating and private bathrooms. A buffet breakfast is served daily. Guests can enjoy beauty treatments at the spa, or engage in horseback riding activities.

Cabins Los Cuernos

Cabins Los Cuernos is located in the Base of Los Cuernos del Paine, at 4,5 hours trek from Las Torres sector or El Chileno. The hotel has a spectacular view of Los Cuernos and Nordenskjöld Lake. It is the perfect place to recover energies and continue the challenge!

Lodge Paine Grande

Located inside Torres del Paine National Park, the lodge offers rooms with shared bathrooms and free Wi-Fi. There is a living room with a fireplace and the rates include breakfast, lunch and dinner at the on-site restaurant. Lodge Paine Grande is set in a privileged natural scenario with direct views of Pehoé Lake and Paine Grande Hill. It is only accessible through the trekking paths of the park.

Map

Reviews

South America
MaryBurchenal ,
December 12, 2014"We are back. We did have a wonderful time with our daughter and I certainly had no reason at all for being at all nervous that things would not go smoothly. Everyone associated with our time in Iguazu Falls was helpful, more than pleasant and always on time. I thought originally that we could manage such a trip on our own. But when we got there and saw the hassles we would have run into with the visas, border crossings, transportation and such, I realized that going the way we did was the wise choice. Absolutely we would travel with you again. And if anyone asks about the best way to see that part of the country, I would not hesitate to recommend KT. "

South America
Janet Huebert ,
December 12, 2014"Well, Cindy, we’ve been home for a week but I can’t stop replaying every day of our wonderful holiday in my head! It was all that I had hoped for and MORE! We enjoyed all of the locations we visited – the beauty of the landscapes, the sight of wildlife, the rich culture & interesting history of Argentina & the outgoing, positive attitude of its people. Our guides were terrific – so friendly & knowledgeable & helpful & enthusiastic! We had no delays or difficulties & our accommodations were outstanding. Have I mentioned that it was a FABULOUS holiday??!!! My thanks to you for coordinating, booking, confirming and generally taking care of our requests in planning our adventure. "

South America
Ann Schiller ,
December 12, 2014"Fabulous trip to Machu Picchu, Cusco and Lima. Trip of a lifetime with a sensational group of guides, drivers, and transfer staff! Loved the Sanctuary Lodge! A must! Thank you, Nella Huaringa, for planning this amazing journey! Thanks for making sure we didn't miss a thing on our itinerary even when we lost a travel day, due to a broken airplane that turned back midair, on our way to Lima. We appreciate your service above and beyond. "

South America
WendyRobinson ,
December 12, 2014"Wow! All my life, I have planned and organized our trips, requiring considerable research and contact time--not to mention, most significantly, all the stress involved at each destination to make sure all connections are made. This time, I put it in the hands of some extremely capable people--and sat back and relaxed. And relax I did! We were booked into full-service, quality accommodations at all times; our transport and tour guidance were all on an individual, private basis, except where public transportation was in order; and--most valuable to us--we were met and assisted through all travel/hotel connections. We truly felt pampered. At one point, in fact, we had a problem with an immigration paper that we had lost, and a Kensington representative personally accompanied us through the whole process of replacing it--even though we were officially "on our own" that day. That's what makes the difference--the responsibility and accountability toward clients. Kudos to Kensington and to our representative, Brandi Merchant. We are already planning more travel and see no reason to look any further than to an agency that has earned our trust. "

South America
LorettaCappuccitti ,
December 12, 2014"We had a wonderful time on our trip. The accommodations were all great. The guides and drivers were all very pleasant and knowledgeable. We were very happy with our choice of destinations and with the way the trip was organized. It was a lot of flying in two weeks but well worth it. Erika was able to accommodate a short-notice addition (Nazca Lines) to our trip which we appreciated. Thank you Erika for your help. Great trip!!"

South America
Christina Adams ,
April 21, 2014"I know it's silly to give all 10's, obviously every trip has it's ups and downs, but if it hadn't been for our Kensington Tours planning, guides and drivers we would have been lost! It was wonderful to be out in a strange new environment yet know we had a safety net and a friendly face. The places we visited were awesome but I think we'll remember most the people that we met. Thank you and I'll send photos soon! Sincerely, Christina Adams"

South America
Frank Manna ,
April 21, 2014"Our guided transfers were exceptionally accommodating even though our flights were considerably delayed. The Annavillanas Jungle Lodge was spectacular for location, accommodations and food. The Rio Carnival experience was unique and unforgettable and our seats were wonderful. Loved the location of our hotel in Rio.......right on the street of Copacabana Beach.......fantastic. "

South America
Vivian Jennings ,
April 21, 2014"Very pleased with organization. Not having to worry about connections or arrangements is wonderful. Great selection with hotels, Coral 1 and Napo Wildlife. Kensington puts all the details together to ensure a wonderful trip. Highly recommend the Galapagos and Amazon. "

South America
Daniel More ,
April 21, 2014"All was great. Guides were knowledgeable, personable, friendly... that's what really made the trip."

South America
Marlin Barad ,
April 21, 2014"Sofia, thank you for putting together a great trip. We certainly enjoyed ourselves very much. The planning and care was excellent. We hope we can do another trip with you all soon. Marlin Barad"